590 1st Ave S Unit 502

Gridiron

At ground level, The Gridiron looks nearly unchanged from the old Seattle Plumbing Supply company. That’s because those 112-year-old red-brick walls were preserved around the condominium, giving residents their own piece of Seattle history. “The developer, Kevin Daniels, I think he would describe himself as a preservationist, so it’s in his nature to keep what he can,” says Matt Goyer, local broker and owner of Urban Living real estate. “It blends the old and the new and keeps that historical context of being in Seattle’s oldest neighborhood.” In addition to its architectural intrigue, central sights and location are The Gridiron’s greatest assets. “All the units have phenomenal views because there are no buildings obstructing them,” says Jenni Moreno, a Seattleite and leasing specialist for The Gridiron through Point3 Real Estate. “On the west side you have the port of Seattle,” a still-active shipping site, “and you have city views.” Next door, Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park host concerts and pro sports. With high-end amenities and a flexible rent-to-own option on top of the area’s history, cityscape and nearby public transit, The Gridiron lets residents comfortably immerse themselves in Seattle at their own pace. Compact floor plans all under 1,100 square feet and varied layouts — including seven different one-bedroom setups — let residents pick the arrangement that matches their priorities. In smaller units, the living room and its nearly floor-to-ceiling windows are the star of the show. Alternatively, sleeping and living spaces can be more evenly split, and the bedroom can have multiple windows and closets. Some units include an Urban Bedroom, which “is an open floor plan with a sliding wall divider,” Moreno says. “It’s open concept [and] not a proper one bedroom,” making it easy to double as a home office in the two-bedroom units. Open concept designs also show up in the kitchens, all of which have paneled refrigerators. Blomberg ovens, Bosch dishwashers and gas ranges are standard throughout, as are central air-conditioning and in-unit washer-dryers. Pental quartz countertops and light oak flooring reinforce a neutral color scheme that, like the multiple layout options, give residents room to express themselves. The Gridiron’s rent-to-own model is truly flexible, whether residents are unsure about where to lay down their roots yet, or they’re waiting for the right time to invest in the neighborhood. Units owned by the developer, Daniels Real Estate, can either be rented indefinitely, or rented with the option to purchase them one year later at an agreed-upon price. As part of that agreement, 20% of the monthly rent goes toward the down payment. Resale units are also on the market, and owners have the option to lease their unit. “There’s no rental cap in the building, which is nice,” Moreno says. The only restriction is the length of lease agreements. “The minimum term is 30 days within a 60-day period,” which means AirBnbs are a no-go. The Gridiron’s clubhouse, sitting on top of the 11-story building, is where residents enjoy a shared fireplace lounge, fitness center, catering-friendly kitchen and private wine fridges for rent. Outside, the wooden patio has weather-resistant seating and 360-degree views that include the downtown Seattle skyline. Although residents can’t get a peek at the games inside Lumen Field from the rooftop, dogs have an artificial lawn to do their business. With Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park as neighbors, this area of Pioneer Square is ideal for football (Seahawks), baseball (Mariners), and soccer (Seattle Sounders) fans. “You gotta love those sports, because you’re gonna be listening to them all the time,” Goyer says. Aside from the dozen fast-casual and sit-down restaurants within blocks of The Gridiron, the immediate surroundings are mostly warehouses and train tracks. “Pioneer Square is an unusual neighborhood,” Goyer says. “There are a handful of historic loft buildings, and a lot of offices. But there’s no grocery store.” However, a multibillion-dollar investment currently in the works will add waterfront walking paths to soften the brick-and-steel atmosphere. “You have a pretty walkable neighborhood to begin with,” Goyer says, “and because you have the stadium right there, a lot of transit is oriented around that.” Residents can take the Link 1 Light Rail line north to Pikes Place Market and the U District for shopping, eating and nightlife, or take it south to Tacoma International Airport. For car owners, there are hourly street parking spots in front of the building and throughout the neighborhood.